2 oz PU nylon. No need for a foot print, but I often put a small piece of plastic sheet like garbage bag for more protection, under the sleeping area Canopy is some kind of siliconised spinnaker, the kind used for traction kites or parachutes (a guess, I bought some out of stock fabric for next to nothing...) It's a slight bit stiff, with no elasticity (the reason for rubber loops before guylines), and very waterproof: when water is pressed on it, it doesn't come through, like on silnylon. I have no idea of the weight for this stuff, but it was a pleasure to work with, not slippery at all, with a good density.

For the enclosed "room":Length : 77 in (195 cm)Width : 36 in (93 cm) for the wider part, tappering to 24 in (60 cm) on both sidesThe floor form "walls" that are 10 in (25 cm) high, with the last 2 in (5 cm) netting, on all 4 sides.Total height is 47 in (120 cm)Vestibule is 31 in (80 cm) wide, and can be left completely open (like in Lunar Solo), with the guyline fitted.Needs 6 stakes.The "trial" pole was a 10 mm aluminium tube, but far too flexible. Total weight with this pole and stakes (TI, but many extras in the stake bag!) was 27,5 ounces.When I fix a carbone pole (another project, since I do not always carry hiking poles), there will not be a vast difference in weight

Very nice indeed. I didn't know that anyone was making light weight shelters in France... Love those vents and that large vestibule.Possibly the best DIY tent project I have seen . (the rear view, vent/shock cord hoops and colour is almost identical to the Luxe Mini Peak,a pyramid tent. Do you have the Lunar Solo ?. Should work for a person up to around 175cm , correct ? Franco

Lightweight gear is going in France, UK, Germany, Poland, Russia, Scandinavian countries, too. Not many commercial makers, yet, and they are more geared to raid/race than backpacking. Some people I know started a small business, but it starts slowly, as they have to import most of the material, and price of labour is high. There is a community of DIY addicts like me <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />, "working" on the Web.

This tarptent was designed to be as simple as possible: 1- single pole, 2- canopy cut in one piece in the width of the fabric I had (less stiching), 3- only 6 stakes, no extra guylines. It's the second tent I make like that, but the first one, still OK, I find too "big on the ground", for setting in small spots. I have spent hours scanning the Net eagerly for pictures of tents, tarps and tarptents (but I actually started making tents and other stuff more than 20 years ago <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />), and I'm somehow the kind of person that only have to look at things to know how they are made, so I picked up a lot of ideas, and made models.

Unfortunatly, this tarptent is probably too short for a larger person: the walls are not high enough, risk of contact at the foot end of sleeping bag, limited headroom...As I said, it was custom made (but the dimensions can be adapted...)

I spent too little time inside to be bothered by the color! it was lovely at sunrise.I guess it will be nice if I'm stuck indoors for long hours of bad weather. If I don't stand it, all I have to do is to hide my face into the bandanna or the balaclava <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />!

Thanks Frenchie.I would be interested to find out how that fabric performs in the medium/long term ,as an alternative to silnylon would be welcomed. If you have experienced single wall silnylon tents, also your opinion about how your material handles condensation will be appreciated. (I also think that yellow or orange are nice colours on a rainy day.)Franco

Pattern (with adaptive measurement for the tall ones, possibly ) will certainly come, and construction tips, when :1- I'm done with an overload of work (worst part of schoolyear at the moment)... 2- I have done the necessary translation job!

What kind of software can be used for patterns?Easy one, as I'm not an expert, working with a pencil is more "natural" to me, lots easier and faster.. .

Looks like you have added some nice features from all of the examples you found online <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> I'd be interested to see some photos with you laying inside, standing next to it, and inside a sleeping bag in it for reference of size if you can take more photos.

Maybe someone here can help you with a computer program to give the pattern 'life'. If you want to contribute this to the front page DIY column of projects I'm sure Packlite/Charles would be glad to have it there too <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

You did a great job for not being a professional tent maker Frenchie! Maybe you should consider a change of profession? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />